Math ias pabst



(No Model.)

M. PABST.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING OVBRPLOW FROM BAGKWAI'ER.

Patented Jan.28, 1883.

ATTORNEYS.

} Illl m BN WITNESSES EEW NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATHIAS PABST, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING OVERFLOW FROM BACKWA'TER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,110, dated January23, 1888.

Application filed October 1'7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, llTATHIAS PABST, of Washington city, District ofColumbia, have invented a new and Improved Means for Preventing Overflowfrom Backwater; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccom panying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple means for preventingthe overflow of the cellars and streets in low districts, and thedestruction of goods stored in such places as is caused by the backflowof water through the sewer in times of flood, whether this backflow beoccasioned by the rise of the level of the stream into Which the sewerempties or the lack of capacity in the pipe for carrying off the water.In most of the appliances for this purpose check-valves have been used;but the difficulty with these is that while they stop the inflow ofwater they prevent also the discharge of the waste water from thedwellings. Among other forms of devices for'this purpose is a stand-pipeconnecting with the sewer-pipe and rising above the highest level of thewater with an inwardly-opening valve in the lower end of the stand-pipe,so that the backflow of water closes this valve and rises in thestandpipe, as shown in Patent No.

I 117,156. In this case, however, the lower end of the stand-pipe iscontained in a pit into which the water from the cellar flows andremains constantly stagnant, flowing oft only a small quantity at a time.as thelevel of the water in the pit raises the valve. All valves ofthis character are liable -to be choked and defeat their primary object,and the additional cost of constructing and fitting in such devices hasbeen a serious drawback totheir adoption.

Myinvention is based upon the same general principle of the patentreferred t0-t. 0., it takes advantage of the principle of equalizing thelevel of the high water by means of a stand-pipe; and it consists inmaking this stand-pipedetachable,withitslowerendadapted to be fittedinto the mouth of the sewer with a water-tightjoint by simplytelescoping into the sewer. This device requires no digging, no specialsewer-connection, and may be adjusted by any inexperienced laborer ordomestic in times of flood, this tube, cylinder, or pipe being designedat other times to be hung up or stored in the cellar close by theconnection to which it is to be fitted.

Figure 1 represents a side view in section through the earth of thedevices as applied to the cellar of a house, and Fig. 2 represents asimilar view for preventing overflow in the streets. Fig. 3 is a sideview of the tapering tube or stand-pipe detached from its connectionwith the sewer.

Referring to Fig. l, A represents the ground level, and B the usualwater-level of a stream.

into which the sewer G empties. This sewer opens into the cellar Grthrough the pipe D, and also has communication through a trap with apipe, E, leading down from the sinks, bath-rooms, water-closets, &c.,and which carries ofl' the discharge therefrom. Now, it through sudden"rains the level of the water in the stream should rise to the dottedline new, it will be seen that the water would force its way backthrough the sewer O and rise into the cellar. To obviate this, I placethe pipe, tube, or cylinder F directly in the mouth of the sewer and fitittherein withawater-tightjoint, and this pipe extends above the highestwater-level, as indicated by'the dotted line, so that the water simplyrises in this tube to its level without flooding the cellar and.damaging the goods which may be stored therein.

For adapting the invention to the prevention of overflow in the streets,I place the pipe F in the mouth of the sewer, where it opens into thestreet, and when thewater rises to the high level. y y it simply passesback through the sewer-(land rises to a similar level in the pipe F.These tubes, pipes, or cylinders If are provided at their lower endswith rubberor other elastic rings or gaskets, so as to make awater-tight joint when jammed into the sewermouth, and are also madetapering, as shown, so that waste water may be readily poured into thetop end of the same, if required. When the pipe F is used in thestreets, as thus described, it effectually prevents the overflow of thebackwater; but in times of, heavy rain the streets may become floodedfrom the direct fall of the rain in the streets, and this cannot becarried oft by the sewer on account of the upward extension of pipe F.To provide for this difficulty, I dig a pit and construct a cistern, H,near the sewer, in which the rain accumulates as it falls, and then fromthis pit to the open end of the pipe F the water from this pit istransferred by fire-engines, pumps, or by any other suitable means.

By means of the invention, as thus described, it will be seen that thebacktlow of water is effectually prevented, and this, too, without anyinterference wither stoppage of the discharge from the sinks orwater-closets.

In defining myinvention more clearly,Iwould state that I am aware alsoof patent to Bush,

February 5, 1856, in which a tapering detachable tube is inserted in thegrating of a sink. In this case, however, the tube is but a few -incheshigh, and no extension of the same, or other simple change of degreewould'accomplish the object of my invention, because such tube does notform a closed continuation of the discharge-pipe, and the water couldflow up through the grating or perforated plate around this tube, nomatter how high the latter might be carried. The distinctive feature ofmy invention is to be found in combiningthe tube with the sewer-mouth bya tight joint, so that the said tube or stand-pipe forms a closedcontinuation of the sewer-pipe, rising above the high-water level.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- Thecombination, with the mouth of the.

sewer-pipe, of the detachable tube or stand- MATHIAs PABST.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. DONNELLY, LoUrs PABS'I.

